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Navajo Nation Honors Code Talker Albert Smith

ICTMN Staff

4/19/13

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly said the Navajo Nation collectively mourns the loss of Navajo Code Talker Albert Smith, 88, who passed away on Wednesday morning. President Shelly has ordered the Navajo Nation Flag be lowered from sunrise today, April 19 through sundown on April 22 in honor of Code Talker Smith.

"Vice President Rex Lee Jim, First Lady Martha Shelly and myself offer our prayers and condolences to the family of Code Talker Smith. His legacy of being a Code Talker will be remembered for generations to come. The Navajo Nation mourns the loss of one of our modern day heroes and warriors,” President Shelly said in a press release.

Code Talker Smith was born on December 13, 1924. He was Salt People Clan and born for Black Streak Wood People. He served in the 4th Marine Division Battalion, 23rd regiment during World War II and served in Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima and the Marshall Islands. He began his service as a Code Talker in 1942.

"I think about our Code Talkers and their deeds, it makes me proud to know that these young Navajo men helped defeat the Japanese. Code Talker Smith was among those young men who used our language to defeat the enemy. They came home without being able to tell us of their deeds. We recognize them today and their heroic deeds,” President Shelly said.

Code Talker Smith also served as an advisor to the movie Windtalkers, which depicted the inception and service of the Navajo Code Talkers. In 2001 he was honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service during World War II. Last November he was an honored guest in New York City's Veterans' Day Parade, which runs along Fifth Avenue.

Code Talker Smith is survived by his daughter, Alberta Holman; brothers, George Smith of Mariano Lake, New Mexico, Donald Smith of Bluewater, New Mexico, Leonard Smith of Sundance, and Phillip Lee Smith of Monument Valley, Utah; sisters, Yvonne Denetclaw of Fruitland, New Mexico, Florence Dick of Iyanbito, New Mexico, Phyllis King of Iyanbito, and Diane Smith of Sundance; and two grandchildren. Code Talker Smith was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Smith, of Laguna, New Mexico; parents, Red and Betsy Dawoola Smith; stepmother Johanna Smith; brothers Sherman Pinto, Ray Smith and George Smith, and sisters Mary Christine Begay and Dorothy Jaramillo.

A rosary was scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. last night at St. Joseph Church in Laguna, New Mexico. Funeral services are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. today, April 19, at the same church.

"Code Talker Smith will be remembered as a educator, warrior and a hero among our Navajo people,” President Shelly said.

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